Devices, systems, and methods for evaluating acuteness of deep vein thrombosis

Abstract

A method for evaluating deep vein thrombosis (DVT) caused by a blood clot formed in a deep vein of a patient is provided. The method includes receiving, at a computing device in communication with an ultrasound imaging device, an ultrasound signal representative of an ultrasound echo reflected from the blood clot, wherein the ultrasound echo is associated with an ultrasound pulse transmitted by the ultrasound imaging device; determining, by the computing device, an acuteness of the blood clot based on a strength of the ultrasound signal; and outputting, to a display in communication with the computing device, a graphical indication of the determined acuteness. In some embodiments, the method further includes transmitting, by use of the ultrasound imaging device, the ultrasound pulse into the deep vein where the blood clot is positioned.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for evaluating deep vein thrombosis (DVT) caused by a blood clot formed in a deep vein of a patient, the system comprising:
 an ultrasound imaging device configured to transmit an ultrasound pulse into the deep vein where the blood clot is positioned, detect an ultrasound echo reflected from the blood clot, and output an output signal representative of the ultrasound echo; and 
 a processor in communication with the ultrasound imaging device, the processor operable to:
 receive the output signal representative of the ultrasound echo from the ultrasound imaging device; 
 process the output signal to determine a strength of the ultrasound echo, and to display, on a display, a grey scale image of the ultrasound echo, wherein a brightness of the grey scale image is displayed in proportion to the strength of the ultrasound echo; 
 compare the strength of the ultrasound signal to a threshold; 
 determine an acuteness of the blood clot as acute when the strength of the ultrasound echo is below the threshold, and determine the acuteness of the blood clot as chronic when the strength of the ultrasound echo is not below the threshold; and 
 output, to the display, a graphical indication of the determined acuteness, 
 wherein the processor is configured such that the threshold is variably settable by a user of the ultrasound imaging device based on test results of the patient or a clinical history of the patient. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the display displays the grey scale image of the ultrasound echo with the graphical indication of the determined acuteness comprising a first graphical overlay when the blood clot is determined as acute, and a second graphical overlay when the blood clot is determined as chronic. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the first graphical overlay comprises a first color and the second graphical overlay comprises a second color different from the first color. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the first graphical overlay comprises a first text and the second graphical overlay comprises a second text different from the first text. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the ultrasound imaging device is an intravascular ultrasound catheter. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the ultrasound imaging device is an external ultrasound probe. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the ultrasound imaging device operates at a frequency of 10 MHz. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the ultrasound imaging device operates at a frequency of 20 MHz.